Wednesday before the markets opened, Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) reported its fourth-quarter financial results as $1.50 in earnings per share (EPS) and $21.8 billion in revenue. That came over the top of Thomson Reuters consensus estimates of $1.46 in EPS and $21.63 billion in revenue. In the same quarter of the previous year, the retailer posted $0.90 in EPS and $21.52 billion in revenue.

The company gave guidance for the fiscal first quarter. Target expects EPS to be in a range of $0.95 to $1.05, compared to the consensus estimate for EPS of $1.04.

Target paid dividends of $330 million in fourth quarter, a 21.6% increase from $272 million in 2013. The company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock through open market transactions during fourth quarter or full-year 2014. At the end of the fourth quarter, Target had cash and cash equivalents totaling $2.21 billion

In mid-January, the board of directors approved a plan to discontinue operating stores in Canada. As a result, Target recorded a pretax impairment loss and other charges of $5.11 billion in fourth quarter 2014. After-tax losses from discontinued operations were $3.60 billion in fourth quarter.

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During the fourth quarter of 2013, Target suffered a data breach wherein certain payment card and other customer information was stolen. As a result, the company incurred breach-related expenses of $4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 and full-year net expense of $145 million, which reflected $191 million of gross expense partially offset by the recognition of a $46 million insurance receivable.

Brian Cornell, chairman and chief executive of Target, said:

We’re seeing early momentum in our efforts to transform Target, and our team is entering the new fiscal year with a singular focus on continuing to differentiate our merchandise assortment and shopping experience while controlling costs by reducing complexity and simplifying the way we work. We’re confident that these efforts will allow us to grow our earnings while returning cash to our shareholders in 2015 and beyond, driving improvements in Target’s return on invested capital and creating long-term value for our shareholders.

Shares of Target closed Tuesday up 0.3% at $76.95. In premarket trading Wednesday, shares were up 0.6% at $77.40. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $74.57 and a 52-week trading range of $55.25 to $77.75.

Comparatively, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) reported its fourth-quarter financial results last week, and posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.61 on total revenues of $131.6 billion, which includes membership fees in Sam’s Club. In the same period a year ago, Wal-Mart reported EPS of $1.60 on revenues of $129.7 billion. Fourth-quarter results compare also to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $1.54 and $132.36 billion in revenue.

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The Credit Suisse report indicated that Wal-Mart had the lowest total basket price for consumables over the past decade. And more recently, the gap between Wal-Mart and its competitors improved for the fifth consecutive month. This rose to 17.9% in January, versus 17.2% in December and versus the one-year average of 16.2%. Wal-Mart’s price advantage to Target was shown to be at the highest level in the survey’s history.

Wal-Mart shares closed Tuesday relatively flat at $84.57. The consensus analyst price target is $84.50, and the 52-week trading range is $72.61 to $90.97.

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